Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalswan’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Fikalswan’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniform plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy and green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large white-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIKALSWAN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fikalswan’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-floweringKalanchoe cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Odense, Denmark in September, 2006 of a proprietaryselection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 6877-02(04), not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 7626(02), not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoeplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fikalswan’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fikalswan’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoeplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniform plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching plant habit.    -   4. Glossy and green-colored leaves.    -   5. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Large white-colored flowers.    -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than and not as        vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as developing flowers of plants of the        female parent selection are yellow in color.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Kalanchoe are mostly flat whereas        leaves of plants of the male parent selection are undulating.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have longer postproduction        longevity than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana ‘Simone’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,238. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Simone’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of        ‘Simone’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Simone’.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Kalanchoe were mostly flat        whereas leaves of plants of ‘Simone’ were undulating.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had longer postproduction        longevity than plants of ‘Simone’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Fikalswan’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 14-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands andunder conditions which closely approximate commercial Kalanchoeproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 18° C. to 20° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and lightlevels ranged from 10,000 lux to 60,000 lux. Plants received longday/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about threeweeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long nightconditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 13weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In thedetailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fikalswan’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            blossfeldiana identified as code number 6877-02 (04), not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            blossfeldiana identified as code number 7626 (02), not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 15 days            at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 18 days            at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright and uniform plant habit;            freely flowering habit with numerous compound cymes;            inverted triangle with rounded crown; appropriate for 10-cm            to 15-cm containers; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 14 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 16 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about six to            eight lateral branches develop per plant; pinching (removal            of the terminal apex) is not required but will enhance            lateral branch development.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 138A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical; mostly            flat; glossy.        -   Quantity per plant.—About 8 to 13 mature leaves and about 14            to 22 generative leaves.        -   Length.—About 10 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptical.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; succulent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully            developed foliage, lower surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 137A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 7 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Flowers arranged singly in            compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils; uniform            and freely flowering habit with usually about 25 open            flowers and about 25 flower buds per lateral branch and more            than 150 open flowers and flower buds per plant; flowering            continuously for at least eight weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during November and December in The            Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also be            induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at least            14 hours of darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive            conditions, about nine to eleven weeks are required; actual            time to flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and            light intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about nine weeks under interior environmental            conditions; individual flowers last about 25 days on the            plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.3 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid            with development. Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Color: Close to NN155D tinted with close to 142D.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 8 mm. Aspect: Flat to partially upright.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse to acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to            NN155D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to NN155C.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            1 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:            Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Eight per            flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length: About            0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: Four per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Style            length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma            shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close            to 138D.        -   Seed.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:            Close to 166C.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoes.

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalswan’ as illustratedand described.